Scripture

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Observation

We were cleansed from our sin when we first came to faith in Jesus, so we must live in that clean nature by loving other Christian brothers and sisters.

We have been born again to eternal life, not to a life that will end. People are like grass, but the word of the Lord, the good news, lasts forever.

We must get rid of all evil behaviour, and instead crave pure spiritual milk so that we will grow into the fullness of salvation.

Application

When we put our trust in Jesus, we were born again or born of the Spirit. This new life in Christ is not for this earthly life only. The new life is everlasting.

This means that we must live for eternity, not for the present. Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus, not on earthly things.

And so we have to make a conscious decision to put away sin. Everything that separates us from God must go. This is a lifelong process in which God convicts us and redirects our passions and desires.

Positively, it means we must crave the pure spiritual milk that brings us to mature discipleship. This refers to the word of God, the Scriptures. We need to read the word daily, and regularly hear the word of God preached, as well as studying the word in small groups.

When we do these things and learn to place our attention on Jesus, then we will grow into maturity in the faith.

Prayer

Lord, you have shown me how to grow in you. Please help me to be disciplined in my study of your word and in the thoughts of my heart. Amen.

Scripture

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom, he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious Blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Observation

We must learn to exercise self-control by focusing on the gracious salvation that is coming. We must live obedient to God and not slip back to the old ways of living,

We must be holy in everything. God will judge us and reward us according to our deeds.

God paid a ransom for us. It was not just silver or gold, but the precious Blood of Christ. God chose Him before the world began and has revealed Him to us in these last days.

Application

I was born in sin to sinful parents. They lived an empty life because it was separate from God.

Then Christ came in and I was born again to a living hope and a new life full of the presence of God. I didn’t deserve this. It was God’s gift.

The ransom for my salvation is the precious Blood of the everlasting Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. God was prepared to pay this price – humbling himself to become a man and then dying for me. This says something about the seriousness of sin. But it also says something about how much God is prepared to give up for the prize of my redemption.

God loves me with real love. It is not a cheap grace. He goes all the way to see me rescued from my sin.

Because of His love for me, I must live a holy life, set aside for His purposes.

Prayer

Father God, I am amazed at your great love for me. Please help me to live a life that shows my love for you. Amen.